Rain wreaks havoc in Pune, boats rescue stranded people, schools shut

Pune (Maharashtra), July 25: Large tracts of Pune city and the district were submerged in flood waters as the state’s academic and cultural capital was pounded by heavy rain overnight, with schools shut and boats deployed to help out people, officials said here on Thursday.

The city Fire Brigade, police, SDRF and NDRF teams and other agencies were rushed to many areas to rescue people who woke up this morning and found themselves stranded in 3-5 feet deep waters.

The rescuers deployed boats and ropes to bring out scores of people stuck in their homes or shops with the waters inundating their dwellings up to the ceiling in some buildings. The NDRF started a rescue operation in Nimbaj Nagar, Deccan Gymkhana and Sinhagad Road areas which were among the worst hit as the city received over 200 mm rains in the past 24 hours.

The situation was compounded by over 40,000 cusecs water being discharged from the overflowing Khadakwasla Dam, said Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol, the Pune MP.